I know this is the umpteenth post about the absurdity of shared washing machines in a country as rich as Switzerland, but I’m so annoyed.

It's the second time in two or three years I’ve alerted the property management company that the shared washing machine is full of gunk and that clothes stink after washing.

The first time, they replied that since I was the only one complaining, they would wait until other people complained, too. Eventually, someone else did complain, and they finally sent someone to clean it.

Fast-forward about two years, and the problem is back. I emailed them but haven’t received a response in three months.

In the meantime, I’ve tried washing at 95°C, using baking soda, rewashing my clothes, etc., until I finally reached my limit. So I’ve just emailed them again and attached a photo of the gunk inside the rubber seal.

Both our bathroom and kitchen are too small to install a washing machine, plus we're renting. If they continue to ignore me I guess I'll have to mobilize my neighbors, but many people use such heavily scented laundry products that they mask bad odor. No wonder they don't see a problem, I think that's why no one complains...

Hi everyone,

I’m getting a little frustrated with my job search and would really appreciate honest advice from people who have been in a similar situation or work in HR/recruitment.

For a little background, I was born and raised here, and live in Zurich. Speak about 4-5 languages, I completed my commercial apprenticeship in 2023 and have since gained experience in administration and banking. My experience includes coordinating administrative processes, organising meetings, supporting different departments and handling confidential documents and data. I’m also currently pursuing further education in executive assistance.
I’m not simply looking for a routine administrative job where I repeat the same tasks every day. I’d like to take on more responsibility, work independently, contribute ideas, coordinate things and continue developing professionally.

I’m particularly interested in assistant, coordination, project support or administrative roles with greater ownership.

Despite my experience, I keep receiving rejections or no responses at all. I apply through different job platforms, tailor my applications, sometimes contact companies before applying and occasionally ask for feedback after a rejection.

I’d love to hear your advice:

- What has genuinely helped you find a job beyond networking and personal connections?
- What would you review or change in my CV or application strategy?
- Do you know companies that are open to career changers with transferable skills?
- Are there employers where speculative applications are worth trying, even when no suitable vacancy is advertised?

Can you recommend recruitment agencies or other services that have actually helped you?

I’d especially appreciate practical advice and real experiences rather than the usual generic tips.

Thank you so much!❤️

Hello. Please excuse me being blunt or any language errors, I am not doing so well right now.
Our family dog had an accident in awful circumstances and probably wont make it (shes in animal hospital in Bern right now). We are all shaken and I am deeply upset about this. The timing is very bad, Im somehow making it throguh the workday but tomorrow I have an exam and I couldnt prepare the last couple days and cannot concentrate at all.
Is it acceptable as a reason to get a doctors note from my Hausarzt? Do I call my clinic and make an appointment for example tomorrow to get the note? What should I say the reason should be. Do you guys think I will be dismissed? Im not sure if my reason is valid and if he will take me seriously and I need the note to justify my absence and not taking the exam.
I would greatly appreciate your answers and help.

Hello

I am finding myself in a difficult situation with my current employer. The work environment is taking a big toll on my mental health and I am trying to figure out what to do next and what kind of support is available in Switzerland in terms of coaching, mental support etc.

I am either thinking of going for sick leave & applying for new jobs or trying to push through while sending applications. The second option is carrying the risk that I will go into burnout or worse.

My biggest fear is financially if I won’t be able to find something new.

I only see these two options and was wondering if someone who has been in a similar situation can share how they approached their situation.

Thank you

Hi all,

The payroll company saga continues.

I am a consultant in pharma, paid hourly. I obtained this job through a recruiter in the UK and I am contracted with a Swiss local payroll company. The actual pharma company I work for pays the UK recruiter and then they pay my umbrella company.

At the end of each month, I have to turn in the hours worked and my boss approves it. My contract does not specify when I should be paid, but Swiss law does (end of month or 5-10 days into the next month for hourly employees).

I was due my September salary at the beginning of October and have not received it yet.

The Swiss umbrella company says it is not their problem as the recruiter has not paid them yet and they refuse to discuss it further.

Since the payroll company is my actual employer, shouldn’t they have to pay me in accordance to Swiss employment law? Or at the very least hound the recruiter for the late payment?

I have escalated this issue to my boss and HR department at the actual company I work for, but they are not taking it seriously and I’m really pissed off now.

They keep giving me extra major work responsibilities even though I have not been paid and the status of my contract end in two months has not been disclosed. I want to refuse to work any more hours until I am paid, is this allowed by Swiss law? Can I demand any lost salary payment later?

I have legal insurance with Axa, but they have taken weeks to reply to my queries, so I am here now just looking for any advice. I never expected to go through this here in this country as a seasoned professional working for a proper big pharma, but here I am.

Thanks guys!

The Swiss 5-centime coin (or "Fünfräppler", as we call it) hasn't always been "golden". Until 1980 it was made of white copper-nickel, just like the other coins.

Since 1981 it has been struck in yellow aluminium bronze, and there was a very practical reason for the change. Do you know why?

Translation:

We reward you for healthy insurance years

For your insurance products listed below, CSS Insurance has not paid insurance benefits due under these insurance terms during the observation period. We are pleased to credit the following bonus for lack of benefits:

CHF 0.30

The amount will be credited to your January premium invoice as a one-time payment.

We thank you for your trust in our insurance company and are happy to provide advice and answer any questions you may have regarding insurance.

———————-

This was sent along with the new policy for 2027, which includes an increase of 40 CHF per month compared to the previous year.

It is just ridiculous

Hello, I live in Zurich and I will receive some extremely heavy furniture.

My deal with the seller ends in front of my apartment, from there I need someone able to bring them in.

The weight is very high, with some pieces above 100kg

Can you help me find a company able to take the furniture out of the crate and bring them to my apartment?

Thank you!

I’m looking to meet more people who do what they do for the love of the game. I find that most people lack passion for what they do. It doesn’t necessarily have to be their job; it’s how they define themselves. It doesn't just mean you have passion. It also means you're willing to put in the work to be one of the best, to improve, and compete at a high level.

I'm not judging anyone who doesn't want this in their life, however there are certain types of people who requires this in their life. Me included and my experience so far has been that it's very difficult to meet these types of people.

Through work, I recently met somebody whose very passioned about logistics and supply chain management. It’s what he does best, and he loves it. He goes home and listens to supply chain podcasts to improve his craft.

So yeah I am looking to meet more people that do what they do for the love of the game. No matter in which area.

I myself am M24 Engineer working in the AI and tech industry, based in Zurich. I’m a little bit of a workaholic because I love to build cool shit. If you want to build stuff, we’ve never lived in a better time. I love building new things and sharing it.

Current board wants to make money by going ways Dutti never would have agreed to.

If they dig him out, wind copper wire around him, bury him again and replace his tombstone with a magnet they could make electricity when he rotates in his grave!

Hi everyone!

I wanted to share my experience with the ordinary naturalisation process in Stadt Zürich so far, as I know how helpful it can be to compare timelines with others going through the same process.

After waiting for more than four months at the cantonal stage, I finally received an update that my application has moved to Prüfung Bund! 🎉

Here's my timeline:

• 30.06.2025 – Application submitted
• 17.10.2025 – Status changed to Vorprüfung
• 03.02.2026 – Status changed to Prüfung Gemeinde
• April 2026 – Passed the Grundkenntnistest
• May 2026 – Received the positive decision from Stadt Zürich (Gemeindebürgerrecht)
• 19.06.2026 – Status changed to Prüfung Kanton
• 23.10.2026 – Status changed to Prüfung Bund 🎉

The cantonal stage took slightly longer than the four months indicated on the canton's website.

I'm now particularly interested in what happens next.

For those who have recently gone through ordinary naturalisation in Stadt Zürich or elsewhere in Kanton Zürich:

1. How many days/weeks after reaching Prüfung Bund did you receive letter or invoice?
2. How long did it take from Prüfung Bund to Schlussprüfung?
3. How long after Schlussprüfung did you officially become a Swiss citizen?

If you're comfortable sharing your timeline with exact dates (and your municipality), that would be incredibly helpful!

Hopefully, this post will help others who are currently going through the same process.

Thanks in advance, and good luck to everyone still waiting!

Ordered from them a few years ago without issue, this time ordered 30th Sept for delivery 7th Oct.. Tracking numbers didn't work from the start. Around 15th Oct started to try call them, it's only an AI that totally doesn't work
Eventually emailed them and first got a reply in German saying the order had failed and they would refund the money, next day got a reply in French saying they had cancelled the order and raised a new one .. Still no tracking number for this new order number.. Another week later .. Nothing, no tyres, no refund. Wrote again today saying if nothing in next 3 days i'll seek refund via credit card.

Wish i'd read trust pilot reviews first, total catastrophe on there.

I was walking through Hottingen, which is a very nice neighbourhood in Zurich, and thought to myself "Dang, how do these people afford houses this nice in the center of Zurich".

I know there's finance, but I feel like that is a less appealing industry (at least for me), and surely not everybody is in finance, right? And it can't just be people who inherit money, right?

I'm not necessarily asking because I want to pursue a career path like this, but just because I want to kind of know what's out there, ya know? I still have a lot of life ahead of me, and who knows, maybe there is a job worth pursuing more than the one I already plan to (Gymnasium Mathematics teacher).

Anyway, looking forward to your answers.

Posting the question because I just saw a quite young guy delivering Uber Eats with the latest model BMW M3.

I love cars myself, but not that much :-), but it made me wonder why people (assuming) lease a car that they can't really afford.

I bought something last night and want to return it but didn't take the receipt. The migros app only shows that I bought it and how much but doesn't have a receipt PDF like when buying from a regular migros.

Hello sub,

Here is the map of Switzerland made from 1'000 drawings of cantons people have made from memory.

All the drawings are saved as geographical coordinates and positioned precisely in relation to one another on a blank canvas. When several lines converge at the same point, they become darker.

I don't think I am allowed to link my page in the post for you to see the live map and your drawings...

After a lot of struggles, both before and after my pregnancy I finally managed to find a job that suits me.
I will be starting soon, and my employer doesn’t know that I have a one year old child. My husband thinks that marital status and whether you have children must be included in your CV in Switzerland. That seems strange to me because I have never seen that anywhere, and I think he might have misunderstood some information.
During my interview, nobody asked me anything about my marital status or whether I have children. If they had, I would have been honest and told them.
Now I’m not so sure anymore, and I’m wondering if this is actually standard practice in Switzerland. Should I have mentioned it during the interview, or was it completely fine not to?

UPDATE: Thank you for all the answers. I feel much better about it now.

For those who mention that I will have to fill out documents anyway, I know that. I wasn't asking how to hide it or keep it a secret, but simply if I should include it on my CV or mentioned it during the interview.